Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Etfe Panels and Charred Shingles Form a-Frame Cabin Designed for Sustainable Trekking in Iceland

Authors:
Ian Rosenfield, Daniel Omuro, Alfia White
Etfe Panels and Charred Shingles Form a-Frame Cabin Designed for Sustainable Trekking in Iceland
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Crafted with ETFE panels and charred wooden shingles, this A-frame cabin delivers resilient shelter for trekkers in Iceland's remote landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
ETFE panels provide lightweight, high thermal efficiency while allowing natural light penetration.
02
The cabin features a bent A-frame design, optimizing structural integrity in harsh weather conditions.
03
Charred wooden shingles offer natural fire resistance and durability, enhancing longevity.
04
Locally sourced timber minimizes transportation emissions and integrates the structure into its environment.
05
Passive solar strategies maximize energy efficiency and user comfort without mechanical heating.

### Overview
This report presents the design of a sustainable cabin situated in the rugged landscape of Iceland, aimed at providing lodging for trekkers. The project employs innovative construction techniques and eco-friendly materials, emphasizing a commitment to sustainability while ensuring functionality in the natural environment.

### Material Selection and Sustainability
The design prioritizes sustainability through the strategic selection of materials. Key components include durable metal framing and corrugated metal roofing to withstand the harsh Icelandic climate, as well as insulation panels made from ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene), which offer energy efficiency. Local timber has been sourced to minimize transportation emissions, while reinforced concrete and metal plates ensure structural integrity.

Sustainability initiatives also encompass natural daylighting through large windows, which reduce reliance on artificial lighting. A small wind turbine is integrated to enhance energy self-sufficiency, complemented by passive ventilation systems that promote airflow. Efficient water systems, including a cistern and filtration unit, provide trekkers with access to clean water, further supporting the cabin's eco-friendly design.

### User-Centric Design and Interior Layout
The cabin’s interior design caters to the needs of trekkers, accommodating groups of up to 12 individuals. The layout includes essential amenities such as a low-pressure composting toilet, gear storage, and charging stations, all designed to enhance comfort while fostering a connection to the surrounding landscape. Large windows not only provide scenic views but also promote engagement with Iceland's unique ecology.

Adaptability is a key feature of the design, with varying sloped roofs (0%, 10%, and 20%) allowing for site-specific customization. This flexibility enhances performance in managing snow loads and drainage, contributing to the cabin's resilience. The phased construction approach minimizes environmental impact while also enabling early usability for trekkers as the project progresses.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
The Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
MICROHOME 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
100,000€ Prize / 2026

The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

`
Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 2025

Open architecture competitions

  • Closest deadline first
  • Project competitions first
    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
  • Ideas competitions
    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
new
The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 2025
new
Iceland 
Slow Sauna

Design slow sauna in Iceland

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 26 November 2025
Concrete 
Pavilion

Design a concrete pavilion

Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 2025
new
Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 21 January 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

The Last 
Nuclear Bomb Memorial

Design a memorial that speaks to the cause of ending all nuclear weapons programs

Edition #6 ideas COMPETITION SILENT CONTEST For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 13 November 2025
new
The Architect's 
Chair

Take a seat and make a statement!

Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 20 November 2025
Hospice - 
Home for the 
Terminally ill

Design a safe and supportive space to those struggling with a terminal illness

Edition #5 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 10,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 26 November 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 26 November 2025
Museum of 
Emotions

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #7 ideas COMPETITION SILENT CONTEST For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 2025
Re:Form - 
New Life 
for Old Spaces

Choose a site—used, abandoned, or forgotten—anywhere in the world, and give it a new purpose

Edition #2 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 3 December 2025
The Home of 
Shadows

Design a home with no artificial lighting

The light studies. Edition #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 14 January 2026
The Architect’s 
Stair

Take a step and make a statement!

Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 15 January 2026
new
MICROHOME 2026

Design a new concept of small-scale home and share a prize fund of 100,000€

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 11 February 2026
new
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2026 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 26 February 2026

Media, partners and clients

To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy